The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-06-27

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

1t may be said that we have not yet
any distinctly defined political parties,
with recognized platforms of principles
and measures. Persons rather than
principles have been regarded as the
chief feature Of our politics. Mr.. Gibson
is made the chief, if not the only, obiec-
tive point of a political opposition. To
the new conner and those not we'll ac-
quainted with our political history this
opposition will appear to be directed
against his ministerial course But the
personal opposition was equally as mean
and bitter in 1880, before he was Min
lister, as it has been since. At the time
referred to he was actually about to re-
tire from business in the city and de-
vote his attention entirely to his estate
on Lanai. But at the very time he was
preparing to leave the city, during the
Christmas week of 1880, he was at
tackled with such bitterness and ferocity
that he deemed it a duty to comply with
the wish of friends and become a candi-
date for the city, the result being that
he was returned for the Legislative As
sembly by more than four-fifths of the
voters of the capital. And on his success
as an elected member of the Legislature
he was invited by parties who had been
In political opposition to him to take a
part in the formation of new Ministry,
which it was proposed should be imposed
upon the King. But he emphatically
declined to take part in any such I'M
warranted assumption of authority The
SURFACES of the people had given him,
and others in sympathy with his polit-
ical views, such majority in the As
sembly that His Majesty the King recog-
nized for the first time the fitness and
propriety OF placing in charge of the
work of Government men WHO repre-
sented fully the wish of the people.
And now there have been five years
of administration under the leadership
of popular representation. And what is
the record? During these years must it
not be said that more has been done for
the object OF population and to
provide for the great industrial
interests of the country than
during the whole period of years since
the Government was established. And
what shall we say about the credit of
the country during these five years?
1t is well known that in 1874 and 1876
laws were passed to authorize the Dor
rowing of money abroad, and gentle
man eminent in the councils of the
nation went to the great financial head
quarters of Europe, and could not Dor
row dollar
1t may be said that the present in
debtedness for money borrowed at home |
and abroad has been the result of ex- !
or mismanagement, but |
surely it must be conceded that the DO |
sition of the Government as a borrower
has been greatly improved since those
good times which are referred to as
the golden era of good government.
And how about our relations with for
eign Powers-have they been weakened
Or affected injuriously? We can say
and our Foreign Office can
give the evidence, that His Majesty's
relations with foreign Powers were never
better than at this time. And in con-
;lusion, without claiming merit as due
he administration of government for
very evidence of public welfare, yet
he inquirer into the condition of the
country and to the facts of its progress,
will be obliged to concede that the
'eriod of five years referred to has seen
steady and large increase in produc-
ion and expectation and decided i'm
rovements in education and in the
anitary condition of the country. I